After his earlier experience with a face-hugging piece of needy paper, Otavio finds himself aching to be left alone as the damned book bug lashes on to him. He adopts some fancy footwork and weaves in shield bashes and jabs with the guard of his sword to keep the blasted thing at a distance.
"Transcribe what information?!?" Sara is suddenly worried all her hidden shames will be written for all to see, minor shames really, but still not something she wants someone reading and comparing.
Sara draws her rapier, droping into a semi practiced stance, and thrust with hopes to impale the bookish creature before it has the chance to transcribe anything.
Marcus almost laughs out loud at the absurdity of the situation they've found themselves in.
Perhaps we should have just let ourselves die at the Senate - that would have been simpler than this!
Despite that, he pulls out his longsword and slashes it at the book.
Bimble tells the others what he knows about the creatures while moving near Capricia to help her flank one of these book monsters. Capricia slices into the nearest book ripes it apart as pages fly everywhere and the book falls to the ground. Otavio tries to fend off the one on him, but doesn't have any luck. Marcus also slices open the book near him. While Sara moves to finish off the one book to the north since the one attacking her was already dealt with by Capricia. Rosana lets a bolt fly at the last remaining book but misses.
The book starts to pull memories from Otavio as writing begins to appear on the pages. It starts with his experiences exploring this underground area, and moving back from there. The process isn't painful, but it tries to pin him down in the process.
However, Otavio is able to resist it pinning him down.
Eventually the others come to Otavio's aid and promptly dispatch the last of the book monsters before it can write too much of Otavios story on its pages.
After being rudely interrupted by the living books you return to looking through the bookshelves. As with the previous room most of the books are in poor shape and falling apart. Other than the old ruined books there is little else of interest in the room, aside from the remaining southern door.
"So...those books weren't really that bad? They're just biography creators. Interesting," Rossana says. "So on to the next room then?"
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Sara will pick up the remains of the Story of Otavio, she'll take it over to him with a smile. "This is your story. Maybe the most truthful rendition one could have, of whatever it wrote about" she'll shrug ,Could be great? Could be humiliating? Do you want to destroy it or keep it?" offering to up to him for either.
Capricia smiles at the small act of kindness Sara shows to Otavio. Then the smile fades as she moves to the next door, falcata at the ready.
"Alright--let's find that missing key, people!" she says in a rough approximation of a pep talk before opening the door.
Otavio's reaction is a thousand and one faces put into a single second worth of motion. He jumps from a look of surprise to one of curious dismay, before realizing how sweet the gesture is. He offers Sara a smile and accepts. All the while, a part of him dies as insecurity gnaws at him, but yet another part actively resists the urge to roll on over and accept defeat. "Thank you. I ... I don't know what to do with this, yet, but destroying it right away would make me feel like an insecure hack, so I'll hold on to it for now. Who knows, maybe I can learn a thing or two from myself," he says with a cheeky grin.
Marcus slides up to the door to check it out. Not finding anything Capricia swings the door open. Cold metal lockers line the open spaces of this room. Desiccated papers protrude from the few open units, while the rest of the lockers remain tightly shut. Thick metal bolts connect additional lockers to the walls here. Some of the lockers reach up to the ceiling about twenty feet above.
In the middle of the room there is a sphere of bronze and copper set with a single eye, this winged creature has two clawed hands, one of which clutches a knife.
You recognize this creatures as an Arbiter Inevitable. A lawful outsider often found throughout the multiverse in courts and on battlefields. Arbiters keep a close eye on the forces of chaos and do their best to keep the lawful from straying, while simultaneously winning over the hearts and minds of those who might yet be saved. They are resistant to magic and have the ability to regenerate themselves.
You know that they have the ability to cast a few spells and can also release a pretty serious electrical charge from their bodies if threatened.
The thing turns to you and with the non-sword wielding hand briefly waves while it looks at each of you one by one as if looking into your very being "Hello. I am Factor 12. I am the curator of the library archives. Have you come to make a withdrawal, or to investigate a requested item in the attached reading room?"
"Show it...er, him?...her?...show the curator our key and ask if it knows where the other is located," Capricia whispers to Bimble.
The planar being stares at Bimble blankely "I am not sure. Time does not concern me, only my duties to the archives."
"Have you seen any keys lying around here?" Rossana asks, encouraged by the fact that the thing had not attacked them on sight.
"We have seen such amazing things in this place, especially all the books... other than the ones that tried to kill us... if you don't have the key, could you tell us more about this place? About its lovely history, or creator, or why these badges brought us here?" Sara truly hopes it just hands over the key like the others requested.
Otavio peeks his head around the corner and gasps. "Wow, this is one neatly kept archive."
When Rosanna and Bimble inquire about a key the floating metal eyeball makes a movement akin to a nod "Yes, one of the items available for withdrawal is a key. There is also a magically enchanted battleaxe, a magically enchanted breastplate, a pair of magical boots, and a wand. He pauses for a moment and then continues with a grumple "I used to allow up to two items to be withdrawn upon request, but I was forced to crack down after recent thefts..."
When Bimble asks about the designers the thing looks at him quizzically "It was Marcusilliam Vern, I am surprised you are here looking for historical items and don't even know who it is that designed this place..."
When Sara asks about the badges he flies a little closer to take a look "Those are senatorial aid badges with a protective function of teleporting wearers to a safe room should any physical danger present itself." Once again with a quizzical look he asks "You wear them but do not know their function? Are you sure you are designated to be in this area?"
"We were given these by our patron and told to wear them," Rossana explains. "Do you happen to know where this place is located in reference to the city?"
"The city in question being Oppara," Capricia quickly interjects.
"May we borrow the key and...," Capricia continues, looking to the others for guidance, "um, what spell does the wand contain?"
"The place was in chaos, and even the princess was in danger," Rossana adds on to Bimble's plea.
Sara shuts her mouth when the creature questions them based on her interjections... but it doesn't stay shut long. “How long can we borrow the items?” she will also include the horrible details of the chaos and destruction that is happening in the Senate right now, and add “Not one of them looked like they respected books in ANY way.”
Marcus stands by, not contributing to the conversation. He tries to seem calm, but he can feel his hand inching toward his crossbow.
No, let them work it out. Just be ready to protect if necessary.
The planar being considers your words for a moment and then looks to Marcus for a moment before turning to the rest of you "Very well, you may borrow two items, though they are not for that human to use." He points his sword at Marcus. "He has a tendency toward chaos and I don't believe he can be trusted."
When Capricia asks about the wand it notes "It is able to remove disease."
To Rosanna's question he looks quizzically again but simply answers "You are in the underlevels of the Senate Building."
When Sara asks about borrowing the items he notes "Items may be on loan for up to one week."
"If we were to use the key and bring it right back, could we borrow another?" Rossana asks, noticing the time limit.
Sara looks over at Marcus, with an arched eyebrow and then a shrug when she catches his eye. "What does the boots do?" Sara asks in curiosity.
"Oh, and how does one get back up to the Senate Building from here?"
The thing stares at Bimble a moment then replies "No. You are together, so you may only withdraw the specified number at a time."
As Rossana asks about the key he promptly says "Yes, that is permitted."
Otavio addresses his companions in a hushed manner, hoping Factor 12 doesn't hear him. "Eh, should we perhaps tell him that his function is pretty much undone by the current state of this place and as such, he .. she ... it?! ... might want to reconsider going back home, wherever that might be? It seems awfully cruel to keep something sentient stuck down here forever and ever."
To the sellsword, Factor 12's fate feels ever so cruel.
Marcus returns Sara's shrug with a rye smile of his own.
Tendency toward chaos? If this thing only knew.
Zubari shakes his head to Bimble "No, this arbiter has already been gracious enough to allow you an exception. I have no intention of trying to talk him into something else..."
The planar creature replies to Bimble matter-of-factly "The battleaxe is enchanted to make attacking easier and resulting injuries more severe. The armor is enchanted to provide more protection than normal. The boots are of elven make and make it easier to maneuver in virtually any surrounding. The key is, just a key."
He points to the door to the other room, "That is the reading room, a quiet, secure place to study."
For some reason, Sara does not like the way 12 said 'secure' "Is there anyone in there at the moment?"
He promptly replies "No."
"Okay" still sends shivers down her spine. Turning to the others. "Key and axe. Go unlock the lock that key goes to, but not the other one. Come back here, turn over the key, and get the armor. Then go check back and unlock the next lock... is that the plan everyone is comfortable with?"
"You know, once we're out, this place will be a big find," Rossana comments. "Thinking about it, this place is filled with historical items and space directly under the Senate, making it an important location. We met even end up famous afterward...well, we would if the news of the monarch's madness wasn't going to take everyone's attention."
As they wait for Factor 12 to get the items, Rossana wonders over to the study that had been pointed out and opens the door curiously to see what is inside.
Factor twelve retrieves the two items, one by one and sets them out in front of the group. Rossana checks the other room and finds it is in fact a comfortable study. A circular wooden table and several chairs are arranged in the center of the room. The rest of the room is bare of distractions and utterly silent.